Notes from the Field

Submitted by Frank Murphy, May 10, 2011

In Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has signed controversial legislation that radically expands the authority of emergency financial managers.   The new powers bestowed by this law have already been utilized to essentially dissolve the government of Benton Harbor, Michigan.  Governance without representation has become a reality for this local community.

The potential impact of this law on the governance of schools within Michigan is likely to be significant.  Governor Snyder has developed a list of 23 school districts, which he will  declare as being distressed.  This declaration will enable him to assign an emergency financial manager to take charge of these districts.  This looks like another strategy to turn public schools over to private managers.

We would be wise to take careful note of these developments. For in these times of corporate school reform, bad ideas seem to spread rapidly from one state to another.

policies and legislation.

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